2026 Best Value Demography & Population Studies Master’s Degree Schools

[Demography & Population Studies](/majors/social-sciences/demography-population-studies/demography-and-population-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for demography & population studies students.
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2026 Best Value Demography & Population Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in demography & population studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Demography & Population Studies Schools
University Of California Irvine earned the #1 spot for value among demography & population studies schools in the United States. Set in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Demography & Population Studies graduates carry a median of $16,539 in student loans. Soon after graduation, demography & population studies degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $50,958. That is a strong return on a $16,539 median debt. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for demography & population studies. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Typical student debt for demography & population studies graduates is $13,426. Early-career demography & population studies graduates make about $84,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of San Francisco is a great value for students pursuing a degree in demography & population studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,522. Typical student debt for demography & population studies graduates is $23,935. Soon after graduation, demography & population studies degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $65,223. Set against $23,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Other Demography & Population Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value demography & population studies schools at other degree levels:
View All Demography & Population Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.